I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified
-- St. Paul, I Corinthians 2:2

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Worst angel images

I was going to find a jpeg of angels for the post below, about Christmas carols, but I didn't find any good ones, only Pweshus Moments images that make me reach quickly for the trash can so I can (urp!) -- um, excuse me...

13 comments:

I think the "worst" angel story is "The Littlest Angel," which seems to work its way into every Catholic home thanks to baptisms and birthday parties. It tells the story of a little boy who dies and goes to heaven to "become" an angel. Angels, of course, are distinct persons from human beings; we don't become them anymore than they become us.

I agree with Rich (really!) I always hated that story, but I think I can do him one better: Michael Landon in "Highway to Heaven". Actually, I think he was supposed to be a dead human too.

Favorite angel image: Gandalf the White

Most interesting angel image: Alan Rickman in "Dogma".Yeah, I know, a wee bit heterodox, but he is a terrific actor who captures perfectly the exasperation that the angelic hosts must feel toward humanity most of the time.

Rich, You are right angels are distinct from from human beings but they have appeared as human persons or at least described as such in Sacred scripture and in apparitions ie. Fatima. So though they don't become us they seem to have taken on a somewhat human appereance at times to become visible to humans.

Mark you better be careful. Agreeing with Rich and describing the movie, Dogma as being "a wee bit heterodox" might cost you your "progressive" card. My 2006 prediction/hope; by years end you'll be using back issues of Commonweal and America as kindling and borrowing my Ratzinger Fan Club beer stein.

Speaking of beer I just finished a Great Lakes Brewing Co. porter. I cracked it open when I found out twelve of the WV miners are alive. Guardian angels?

Progressive? Bite your tongue, sir. "Progressive" suggests moving from the insufficient to the more sufficient, which I do not perceive as the path of the Church. True, I tend to view change as an inherently good thing, and do not look at it with suspicion. I believe the Church should take its cue from Creation -- the more wats, the merrrier. God did not give us only one kind of bird, but a dizzingly diverse collection. So, too, why must unity be reduced to uniformity? As St. Augustine wrote, "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

Anyway, might it not be that Rich is drifting left, instead of me drifting right? :)

Early this morning at 1:30 on this thread I said I was toasting the rescue of twelve live miners. I came back from UD looking forward to Mark's response to my '06 prediction and now the same news networks (FOX, CNN, MSNBC) that reported twelve survivors are now reporting only one.

They showed families rejoicing with the news. I can't imagine the devastation they now feel.

"in all things charity" is why I used the term "progressive" instead "liberal". I had heard that quote many times but you are the one who told me it was St. Augustine's a few years ago. Shortly thereafter I picked up a copy of his Confessions and it is one of my most read books. Thanks.

"if the beer is good" Come on now Mark, of course the beer is good (unless spoiled). All brands and styles are good. Some may just be prefered over others but there is no such thing as bad beer. God did not give us just one type of beer, but a dizzingly diverse collection. The more hops the merrier. I invite all to an inclusive, open, welcoming, non judgemental but affirming community of beer lovers.

About Me

I am the parish priest at Saint Remy Parish in Russia, Ohio, in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
What appear to be my opinions expressed herein are, in fact, my opinions, no one else's. Those in the comments belong to the commenters.